Exploring the most beautiful villages in France is an adventure on its own that will make you discover numerous hidden gems 💎 on the way. To help you spot them, the eponymous organization (“Les plus beaux villages de France”) did the work of selecting the most amazing French villages.
But which of the nearly 200 should you visit? SIXT has made its own list just for you. Here are 15 charming small villages full of character scattered across France which will dazzle you with their exceptional heritage and location!
Top 15 of the most beautiful villages in France 👍
- Gordes
- Gerberoy
- Saint-Bertrand-De-Comminges
- Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert
- Saint-Suliac
- Najac
- Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
- La Roque-Gageac
- Yvoire
- Piriac-sur-Mer
- Vézelay
- Angles-sur-l’Anglin
- Saint-Jean-Pied-De-Port
- Kaysersberg
- Audreselles
1. Gordes: a small atmospheric French town 🪨
From the top of its rocky peak nestled in the Luberon Regional Natural Park, Gordes encapsulates the charm of Provence. Located on the Vaucluse mountains, east of Avignon, this village bordered by cypresses and vineyards owes its popularity to its high perched location, its blond stone houses and, of course, its captivating Provençal atmosphere 😊. Its medieval castle, the magnificent Cistercian abbey of Sénanque and the steep streets add the final touch to this characterful town celebrated during the 19th century by many intellectuals and artists.
HOW TO GET THERE? Gordes is located 40 km east of Avignon, 95 km north of Marseille and 700 km southeast of Paris.
2. Gerberoy: a fairytale dream 🏰
Take a bucolic break in Gerberoy (Oise), a tiny village in pastel tones known for its roses only a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Paris. Visitors flock here to admire its cobbled streets and colorful half-timbered houses. Shaped by the hand of the impressionist painter Le Sidaner 🎨, Gerberoy will delight plant lovers — and lovers in general. Wisteria, hollyhocks and other hydrangeas lining the streets add to the charm of this town whose houses seem to have come straight out of a Perrault fairy tale. Don’t forget to visit the Italian terrace gardens, built on the ruins of an ancient castle.
HOW TO GET THERE? Gerberoy is located 130 km northwest of Paris, 68 km southwest of Amiens and 150 km east of Le Havre. It is easily accessible via the A16 motorway.
3. Saint-Bertrand-De-Comminges: such a beautiful village in France 😘
A destination brimming with history is what awaits you in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. This town is situated between the Pyrenees and the Garonne, east of Tarbes in the southwest of France. Saint-Bertrand is spread out between a lower town and an upper town that boasts an impressive cathedral — now a UNESCO world heritage site. Throughout the town, the ruins or Roman buildings are also a treat for history buffs 🤓.
Saint-Bertrand-De-Comminges was an important place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. The ramparts and half-timbered houses of the old town confirm its medieval influences. Don’t miss out the former Olivétains convent or the Saint-Just-de-Valcabrère basilica, the latter of which is just a five minute drive from Saint-Bertrand. Taking in this scenery, you might just think you are in Tuscany.
HOW TO GET THERE? Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges is located 64 km southeast of Tarbes, 110 km southwest of Toulouse and 800 km southwest of Paris. If you plan to go by plane, SIXT car rental service at Tarbes Lourdes airport awaits you 👌
4. Saint-Guilhem-Le-Désert: another paradise made in Provence 🫒
This definitely looks like South of France! Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert offers a landscape of scrubland and olive trees. This small French village is nestled in an arid mountain landscape typical of Languedoc, at the end of the Hérault gorges, near Montpellier. A centuries-old village, Saint-Guilhem is crossed by a stream and characterized by its blond stone houses with medieval accents, its abbey listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, and its sun-drenched square shaded by a century-old plane tree 🌳. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is the ideal place to sit back, sip some lemonade, and listen to the cicadas sing.
HOW TO GET THERE? Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is located 45 km northwest of Montpellier, 350 km southwest of Lyon and 730 km south of Paris.
See more with our road trip in France !
5. Saint-Suliac: village charm from Brittany 🐟
Take a breath of fresh air 🫁 while strolling through the small streets of Saint-Suliac, an authentic Breton fishing village founded by a monk in the 6th century. Saint-Suliac is located on the banks of the Rance, a river that flows into the English Channel. Not far from the popular port town of Saint-Malo 🏴☠️, the little village of Saint-Suliac will entice you with its serenity, its beautiful granite houses typical of Brittany (some are even decorated with fishermen’s nets), and its oceanic microclimate. Stroll around its typical port, then climb to the top of Mont Goreau, from where you can admire the estuary and the village at sunset.
HOW TO GET THERE? Saint-Suliac is located 12 km southeast of Saint-Malo, 60 km northwest of Rennes and 400 km east of Paris.
6. Najac: historical French village
This little French medieval village nestled in the Aveyron valley will surprise you with its elongated configuration. Dominated by the keep of its fortified castle built in the 13th century, which rises 200 meters above the Aveyron gorges, Najac was built on a rocky ridge. The village is typical of the region, with its stone houses enrobed with ivy, its wrought iron balconies, and its sloping roofs. The oldest dwellings date back to the 14th century! The morning mist 🌫️ and the thick forest that perpetually envelope the village make this pretty little French village look like a lost paradise.
HOW TO GET THERE? Najac is located 160 km south of Brive, 110 km northwest of Toulouse and 600 km south of Paris.
7. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie ⛰️
Not far from the Verdon Gorges, the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is nestled between two arid cliffs typical of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence area. The ocher houses with their Provençal shutters, the Romanesque church and its dizzying Lombard bell tower, and the torrent that crosses it are reminiscent of a nativity scene. Renowned for its earthenware tradition, Moustiers can be visited both for its rich heritage (Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel, ramparts, aqueduct) and its exceptional geographic location, very close to the turquoise waters of the Lake Sainte-Croix.
HOW TO GET THERE? Moustiers is located 130 km northeast of Marseille, 145 km west of Nice and 800 km southeast of Paris.
8. La Roque-Gageac 🤩
The village of La Roque-Gageac is a cliffside wonder. This Perigord village, located not far from Sarlat, will amaze you with its incongruous geographic location, between the calm waters of the Dordogne and a steep limestone cliff. The charming old houses with slate roofs line up in a row facing the river. If you look up, you will see the remains of a troglodyte fort that appears to have grown out of the cliff. Facing south toward the river, La Roque-Gageac’s iconic cliffside gives the village a unique microclimate that makes it possible to grow an exotic garden. The imposing Tarde manor, which dates back to the Renaissance, completes this astonishing picture at the crossroads of eras and styles.
HOW TO GET THERE? La Roque-Gageac is located 10 km southwest of Sarlat-la-Canéda, 200 km east of Bordeaux and 550 km southwest of Paris.
9. Yvoire ⛵
Yvoire, in Haute-Savoie, is above all a an impeccable mix of genres: the infinite blue of Lake Geneva that harmonizes well-preserved medieval fortifications with geraniums and other blooms that brighten up centuries-old stones. This Savoyard village is a must-see among the most beautiful villages in France. Its fortified town is one of the main attractions. The square keep of the castle, built in the 14th century, bathes in the clear waters of the Franco-Swiss lake and is another highlight of Yvoire. Don’t leave without tasting the fish specialties 🐟 served in the restaurants, nor without smelling the plants in the Garden of the Five Senses, in front of the medieval castle.
HOW TO GET THERE? Yvoire is located 27 km northeast of Geneva, Switzerland, 190 km northeast of Lyon and 580 km southeast of Paris.
10. Piriac-Sur-Mer 🪻
In Loire-Atlantique, very close to the Guérande peninsula, Piriac is a fishing village with dual appeal: it has the charms of Brittany and also a romantic atmosphere. Its port is lulled by the clicking of masts ⛵. Its granite houses are topped with blue or red shutters. Come summertime, the hydrangeas and hollyhocks that line the streets, immerse the visitor in blend of bucolic and marine experiences. It’s no wonder why several great writers, such as Zola and Daudet ✒️, stayed there to find inspiration. The coastline, which stretches for almost 9 km, alternates between long stretches of sand, gravel, and cliffs, up to the tip of Castelli.
HOW TO GET THERE? Piriac-sur-Mer is located 465 km southwest of Paris, 95 km northwest of Nantes and 230 km northwest of La Rochelle.
11. Vézelay: a beautiful village in France, well-known to pilgrims ⛪
Perched on a so-called “eternal” hill, at the gates of Morvan, Vézelay is a Burgundy village 🍷 appreciated as much for the beauty of its stones as the spiritual aura it exudes. This village is best known for the Sainte-Marie Madeleine basilica that it houses, which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Almost destroyed after the Hundred Years’ War, the religious building and a common starting point of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, was saved by the famous French writer Prosper Mérimée. Today, its Renaissance houses and medieval fortifications add magic to this place of mysticism.
HOW TO GET THERE? Vézelay is located 50 km southeast of Auxerre and 220 km southeast of Paris.
12. Angles-Sur-L’Anglin: picture-perfect beautiful village in France 📸
A postcard landscape awaits you in Angles-sur-l’Anglin. A weeping willow bathing in the river, the remains of a water mill and of a medieval castle perched on a dizzying rocky outcrop, houses of stone adorning winding streets. This village in Vienne is located less than an hour from Poitiers. Angles-sur-l’Anglin will take you back in time through its charming monuments. You can catch a glimpse of life in the Middle Ages, thanks to the ruins of the castle dating from the 11th-15th century which caps this high-perched village. You can go back even further in time thanks to the Upper Paleolithic sculptures hidden in the Roc-Aux-Sorciers (“sorcerers’ rock”). Last but not least, Angles is renowned for its craft art, embroidery in particular 🪡.
HOW TO GET THERE? Angles-sur-l’Anglin is located 48 km northeast of Poitiers, 280 km southeast of Nantes and 340 km southwest of Paris.
13. Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port: wonderful French village in the Pays Basque 🤗
Red half-timbered Basque houses, pink sandstone walls, a Roman bridge, fortifications. Welcome to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, a wonderful small French village close to the Spanish border. This fortified village, remodeled by Vauban in the 17th century, is home to a mix of architectures. Its location is a stone’s throw away from the Nive, at the foot of the Roncevaux pass. Once the site of fierce battles, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is today a stop on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The old Basque houses bathing in the river give the village an unmistakable romantic atmosphere🥰 .
HOW TO GET THERE? Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is located 8 km northeast of the Spanish border, 55 km southeast of Biarritz, 230 km southwest of Bordeaux and 800 km southwest of Paris.
14. Kaysersberg : most beautiful village in Alsace? 🎄
At the heart of the Alsace wine route 🍇, the French village of Kaysersberg, nestled in the eponymous valley, will allure you with its picturesque charm. Its cobbled streets are home to opulent half-timbered houses typical of the region. Massive medieval buildings such as the town hall or the Romanesque church and its jade dome are perfect subjects for photography lovers.
To enjoy a bird’s-eye view, climb to the keep of the imperial castle, which offers an exceptional panorama of the curves of the Alsatian vineyards. During the Christmas season, the village is adorned with a thousand lights to host a Christmas market, one of the most beautiful in France. A true winter wonderland!
HOW TO GET THERE? Kaysersberg is located 12 km northwest of Colmar, 80 km southwest of Strasbourg and 470 km southeast of Paris.
15. Audresselles: one of the most beautiful villages in France by the sea 🌊
The lullaby of the seagulls cooing, rocky beaches that survey England in the distance, fishermen’s houses 🎣 with azure shutters. Audresselles is a paradise for sea lovers. This small French village on the Opal Coast, located on the banks of La Manche, is one of the most popular destinations on the Pas-de-Calais coastline. It is a magnet 🧲 for tourists with its pretty white and blue houses that compliment the village’s nautical aesthetic. Moreover, Audresselles provides access to two beaches and Cap Gris-Nez. The sandstone rock, covering the entire coast, has shaped the landscape and gives all its character to this unique part of France.
HOW TO GET THERE? Audresselles is located 14 km north of Boulogne-sur-Mer, 130 km northwest of Lille and 300 km northwest of Paris. It is easily reached via the A16 motorway.
Visit the most beautiful villages in France with a SIXT rent a car 😎
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